Last thing - make sure you keep copies of everything you submitted with your appeal. Sometimes documents get lost in the system and you need to resubmit them.

Just wanted to add that you should also prepare for the possibility that your employer might participate in the hearing to contest your appeal. They'll likely try to justify their "voluntary quit" classification, so be ready to counter their arguments with your layoff documentation. In my experience, having that official layoff notice and severance agreement should be more than enough evidence, but it helps to think through what they might say and how you'll respond. The administrative law judge will ask both sides questions, so stay calm and stick to the facts. You've got solid evidence on your side!

UPDATE: Just checked my account this morning (4 days after the escalation call) and my status changed to "paid"!!! The money isn't in my account yet, but the portal shows all 9 weeks approved! I'm literally crying right now. Thanks everyone for your advice and support. If anyone else is stuck in adjudication hell, definitely try contacting your state officials - it really works!

Congratulations Alice! Your success story gives me so much hope. I've been stuck in adjudication for 7 weeks now and was about to give up. Just called the Governor's office this morning after reading your post - they said they'd reach out to ESD within 24-48 hours. Fingers crossed I get similar results! Did you have to provide any additional documentation when the ESD agent called you back, or did they already have everything they needed?

anyone else notice that ESD seems to process claims faster when you contact the governor? its like they only do their job when someone important is watching lololol

UPDATE: You guys were right! Just got my determination letter this morning - APPROVED!! The letter says payment will be processed within 48 hours. So that's 3 business days from interview to determination. Thank you all for helping me keep my sanity during this wait!

Great to see this thread helped so many people! Just wanted to add that after you update your address online, it's also worth double-checking that it updated correctly by logging back in after a day or two. Sometimes the system takes a bit to fully process the change, and you want to make sure everything looks right before your next weekly claim filing.

Just want to emphasize what others have said about keeping documentation! I learned this the hard way when Washington ESD had a system glitch that reset some address changes. Always screenshot your confirmation page and save any confirmation emails. Also, if you have direct deposit set up, double-check that your address change doesn't somehow affect your banking information - I've seen cases where updating one thing accidentally clears out other fields in their system. Better safe than sorry!

The bottom line is working part-time while on unemployment is completely normal and expected. Don't let fear keep you from earning money when you need it!

I've been working part-time while collecting unemployment for about 3 months now and it's honestly been a lifesaver. The key things I learned: 1) Report your gross earnings for the week you actually worked (not when you got paid), 2) The system automatically calculates your partial benefits so you don't have to do the math yourself, and 3) Keep good records of your hours and pay just in case. With your $485 weekly benefit amount, you can earn up to $480 before losing all benefits that week, but even earning more than that doesn't hurt your claim - you just get zero benefits for that particular week. Don't let anxiety stop you from taking work when you need the income!